Hezbollah, Amal dealing 'positively and flexibly' with Hochstein

Hezbollah and the Amal Movement are “dealing positively and flexibly with U.S. mediator Amos Hochstein in his endeavor to provide the appropriate political atmosphere for the implementation of Resolution 1701,” a source close to the two parties said.

Speaker Nabih Berri is in charge of “negotiating with him,” the source told Asharq al-Awsat newspaper, noting that the U.S. envoy has accepted several reservations voiced by Berri regarding the recent paper that he had submitted for the demarcation of the land border between Lebanon and Israel.

“Speaker Berri enjoys unconditional support from his ally Hezbollah in his negotiations with the U.S. mediator,” the source added, noting that caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati is also backing the negotiations.

“Hochstein is calling for a gradual solution for the implementation of Resolution 1701, but he has linked his return (to Lebanon) to Israel’s acceptance of the proposed mechanism, something that has not happened until the moment,” the source said.

The source added that Hezbollah is “ruling out an expansion of the war” in the south by Israel, “at least in the foreseeable future.”

“This explains its continued systematic destruction of this number of border towns and villages,” the source went on to say.